Compact floribunda rose plant named &#39;poulpal021&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new garden rose plant of the floribunda rose class which has abundant, red flowers and attractive foliage. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Poulpal021’

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED PILANT

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of gardenrose plant that originated from a controlled crossing between the femaleseed parent, an unnamed seedling, and the male pollen parent, ‘Poulgrad’described in U.S. Pat. No.11,610.

The two parents were crossed during the summer of 1997, and theresulting seeds were planted in a controlled environment in Fredensborg,Denmark. The new variety is named ‘Poulpal021’.

The new variety may be distinguished from the female seed parent by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The seed parent has medium pink flowers. ‘Poulpal021’ has        dark red flowers.    -   2. The seed parent has a petal count of 25 to 40 petals, while        ‘Poulpal021’ has 180 petals.

The new variety may be distinguished from its male pollen parent, by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. General tonality for ‘Poulgrad’ flower color is On open        flower Red Group 53A-46A. ‘Poulpal021’ is Red Group 53A to        Red-Purple Group 60A.    -   2. ‘Poulgrad’ has a flower diameter of 35 mm. ‘Poulpal021’        flowers are is 42 mm in diameter.    -   3. ‘Poulpal021’ has more than double the amount of flower petals        than ‘Poulgrad’.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety was to create anew and distinct variety for garden use with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Uniform and abundant red flowers which do not fade as flowers        mature;    -   2. Vigorous, but compact growth;    -   3. Disease resistance;    -   4. High petal count.

This combination of qualities is not present in previously availablecommercial cultivars of this type, known to the inventors, anddistinguish ‘Poulpal021’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of the rose development program, Mogens N. Olesen germinated theseeds from the aforementioned hybridization during winter of 1997 andconducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlledenvironment in Fredensborg, Denmark.

‘Poulpal021’ was selected in the spring of 1998 by the inventor as asingle plant from the progeny of the aforementioned hybridization.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Poulpal021’ by traditional budding and rootedcuttings was first done by Mogens N. Olesen in the nursery inFredensborg, Denmark in July 1998. This initial and other subsequentasexual propagations conducted in controlled environments havedemonstrated that the characteristics of ‘Poulpal021’ are true to typeand are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems, of‘Poulpal021’. Specifically illustrated in the drawing:

FIG. 1A; Flower petals, detached;

FIG. 1B; Cluster of flowers at various stages of opening attached tostem, showing pedicels receptacles, and attachment of leaves;

Fig 1C; Sepals, receptacle, and peduncle;

FIG. 1D; Fully open flowers;

FIG. 1E; Mature leaves;,

FIG. 1F; Juvenile growth, exhibiting anthocyanin;

FIG. 1G; Bare, stern exhibiting thorns.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of ‘Poulpal021’, as observed in itsgrowth in a field nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. Observed plants are 3years of age, and were grown on Rosa multiflora understock. Colorreferences are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London,England) Colour Chart, 2001, except where common terms of color areused.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘Poulchris’, a rose variety from the same inventors described andillustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,151 issued 14 Dec. 1999, arecompared to ‘Poulpal021’ in Chart 1. CHART 1 ‘Poulpal021’ ‘Poulchris’Petal count 180 55 to 65 Normal number of  7 5 leaflets on compoundleaves Petal color, upper Red Group 53A to Red- Red Group 53A. surface.Purple Group 60A.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Continuous-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 23 mm in length from base of receptacle            to end of bud. Bud diameter is 14 mm.        -   Bud form.—Ovate.        -   Bud color.—As sepals unfold, petals are Red Group 53B.        -   Sepal inner surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 146B.            Surface: Medium pubescence observed.        -   Sepal outer surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 146A and            Yellow-Green Group 144A. Texture: Smooth.        -   Sepal shape.—Apex: Cirrhose. Base: Flat at union with            receptacle.        -   Sepal margin.—Margins have medium foliaceous appendages on            three of the five sepals.        -   Sepal size.—32 mm (1)×8 mm (w).        -   Receptacle.—Texture: Smooth. Shape: Funnel shaped. Size: 11            mm (h)×10 mm (w). Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Ped.—Surface: Smooth with few stipitate glands. Length: 50            to 60 nm. Diameter: 3 mm on average. Color: Yellow-Green            Group 144A. Anthocyanic pigments Greyed-Orange 177A.            Strength: Very strong.-   Flower bud development: Occasionally singularly. Normally, flower    buds are borne in clusters of 5 to 9 flower buds per stem.    Inflorescence type is a corymb.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Duration.—The blooms have a duration on the plant of            approximately 12 days. After flowers have fully matured,            petals are somewhat tenacious.        -   Size.—Flower diameter is 50 mm when open. Flower depth is 23            mm.        -   Flower shape.—A rosette with petals tightly packed in to            sections.        -   Shape of flower, side view.—Upon opening, Upper portion:            Flat. Lower portion: Flat. After opening, Upper portion:            Flattened convex. Lower portion: Concave.-   Petalage: Normally, flowers have an average of 180 petals total, 20    to 25 of which are petaloids.-   Petal color:    -   -   Upon opening, outer petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 53A to            Red-Purple Group 60A. Lower surface: Red-Purple Group 61B            with radial streaks of yellow-Green Group 150D to White            Group 155A at basal to middle zone.        -   Upon opening, inner petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 53A to            Red-Purple Group 60A. Lower surface: Red-Purple Group 61B.        -   Basal petal spots, upon opening.—Upper surface: Yellow Group            4C. Lower surface: Yellow Group 4C and 4D.        -   After opening, outer petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 53A to            Red-Purple Group 60A. Lower surface: Red-Purple Group 61B            with radial streaks of yellow-Green Group 150D to White            Group 155A at basal zone, extending to the middle zone.        -   Upon opening, inner petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 53A to            Red-Purple Group 60A. Lower surface: Red-Purple Group 61B.        -   Basal petal spots, upon opening.—Upper surface: Yellow Group            4C. Lower surface: Yellow Group 4C and 4D.-   General tonality: On open flower Red Group 53A to Red-Purple Group    60A. No change in the general tonality at the end of the 7^(th) to    10th day. Afterwards, general tonality is Red Group 46B.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal reflex.—None.        -   Margin.—Medium undulations of margin observed.        -   Shape.—Generally broad elliptical. Apex: Orbicular. Base:            Acute.        -   Size.—Innermost petals: 8 mm (1)×5 mm (w). Outermost petals:            27 mm (1)×25 mm (w).        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Thickness.—Average.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Quantity.—20 to 25.        -   Shape.—Elliptical with narrowly acute base.        -   Color.—Red-Purple 64D with streaks of Green-White Group 157D            bisecting the petaloids.        -   Size.—7 mm (1)×4 mm (w).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pollen.—None observed.        -   Anthers.—Size: 2 mm in length. Color: Yellow-Orange Group            22A. Quantity: 35 average.        -   Filaments.—Color: Yellow Group 4D. Length: 5 mm.        -   Pistils.—Length: 10 to 13 mm. Quantity: Normally 70 to 80.        -   Stigmas.—Superior in location relative to the length of the            filaments and the height of the anthers. Color: Yellow-White            Group 158A.        -   Styles.—Color: White Group 155B at base with Red-Purple            Group 60C toward the upper portion.        -   Hips.—None Observed in the field nursery in Jackson County            Oreg.

PLANT

-   Plant growth: Moderate, upright to bushy. When grown as a budded    field grown plant on Rosa multiflora understock, the average height    of the plant is 50 cm. Spread is generally 40 cm.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Juvenile growth: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Mature            growth: Green Group 137C.        -   Length.—On average, canes are 30 cm from the base of the            plant to the flowering portion.        -   Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Internodes.—On mature canes, there is an average distance of            35 mn between nodes.        -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Rough with            many small prickles.-   Thorns:    -   -   Incidence.—30 thorns per 10 cm of stem on average.        -   Size.—4 mm in length.        -   Shape.—Upper side: Concave, Lower side: Deeply concave.        -   Color.—Juvenile thorns: Greyed-Red Group 180A and            Yellow-White Group 158A to Yellow-Green Group 144C. Mature            thorns: Yellow-Green Group 144B to Greyed-Yellow Group 160C.-   Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets leaves in middle of the    stem: 7 leaflets.    -   -   Compound leaf.—120 mm (1)×90 (w).        -   Quantity.—2 leaves per 10 cm of stem on average.        -   Color of mature foliage.—Upper side: Yellow-Green Group            147A. Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 147B.        -   Color of juvenile foliage.—Upper side: Yellow-Green Group            146C with anthocyanic intonations of Greyed-Purple 183A.            Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 146C with anthocyanic            intonations of Greyed-Purple 183A,-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Stipules.—Size: 27 mm in length. Shape: Linear, slightly            broad based with outward extending species. Margins: Finely            serrated with stipitate glands. Color: Green Group 137A.        -   Petiole.—Length: 28 mm. Diameter: 2 mm.        -   Upper surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 145C.        -   Lower surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 145B. Observations:            Few stipitate glands. Few small prickles observed.        -   Rachis.—Length: 45 mm Upper surface: Color: Yellow-Green            Group 145C. Lower surface: Color: Yellow-Green Group 145B.            Observations: Few stipitate glands. Few small prickles            observed.        -   Leaflets.—Margins: Serrated. Size: Average size of the            terminal leaflet on normal leaves is 53 mm (1)×42 mm (w).            Shape: Generally elliptical to orbicular. Base: Rounded.            Apex: Cuspidate. Texture: Smooth. Thickness: Average.            Arrangement: Odd pinnate. Venation: Reticulate. Glossiness:            Matte.-   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to powdery and downy    mildew, rust, black spot, and Botrytis under normal growing    conditions in Jackson County, Oreg.-   Cold hardiness: The variety ‘Poulpal021’ has been found to be cold    tolerant to USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 6.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the floribunda rose classnamed ‘Poulpal021’, illustrated and described herein as a distinct andnovel rose variety due to its abundant red flowers, compact growthhabit, disease resistance, and extended period of bloom.